Nyeri: More than 10,000 officers from the Disciplined Service working in the Central Region will soon begin benefitting from a comprehensive mental wellness programme, aimed at addressing the rising mental health challenges within the security sector.
According to Kenya News Agency, this follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Outspan teaching and referral hospital and the Kenya Disciplined Services. This marks a significant step towards strengthening psycho-social support systems within the disciplined service.
The programme will benefit officers from the National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Wildlife Service, and Kenya Prisons Services working in Nyeri, Murang’a, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, and Nyandarua counties. Speaking during the MoU signing, Director of the Outspan hospital and Outspan Global University, Dr. Godfrey Kiruhi, stated that the program has been launched in response to shifting global health trends.
Dr. Kiruhi highlighted the increasing prevalence of mental health disorders, describing them as a silent pandemic affecting nearly every family across the country either directly or indirectly. He noted that mental health disorders lead to malfunction in various aspects of life and are the beginning of many other diseases such as stress.
Through the partnership, the medical facility will extend healthcare beyond the hospital setting, adopting a holistic approach to healthcare that addresses the mental, physical, and social well-being of the officers. The programme will focus on prevention, early detection, treatment, and aftercare.
Key interventions include training peer counsellors within the Disciplined Services for free to help identify early signs of mental health issues. Chaplains within the service will also receive training to provide counselling support, while a referral system is being set up to connect officers requiring specialized care to professional mental health services.
A January 2022 National Police Service report found that at least 12,000 out of the 110,000 officers had mental health problems, including depression and high levels of severe occupational stress. The report showed that 70 percent of police officers felt overworked, 55.3 percent were dissatisfied with the fairness of transfers, and 60 percent cited inadequate housing and safety as significant contributors to their mental distress.
Central Regional Police Commander, Jasper Ombati, noted that the numbers could be higher, estimating that at least 50 percent of officers face some form of mental health challenge. Ombati attributed these issues to the nature of police work, which exposes officers to traumatic experiences affecting their mental well-being.
Welcoming the partnership, Ombati described it as a timely and necessary intervention for the disciplined officers, expected to improve their mental stability, decision-making, and ultimately enhance their service delivery to the public.
Joshua Nkananatha, the Central Regional Commissioner, called for the initiative to be expanded to other government agencies and departments, highlighting that civil servants also face highly stressful situations requiring resilience and proper coping mechanisms.
The effectiveness of the programme will be evaluated after six months of implementation, with adjustments made based on the findings.
